Very Special Old Fitzgerald

I recently ordered a bottle of vsof and it was CRAP! At least i still have six good bottles left all with the same label bottling number.This new bottle of course has a different # and also looks a little darker, hotter finish and has a vegetal smell and taste of which I can not stand.previously reading the forum about H-H taking over the recipe i was wondering if this was theirs.I don't mean to offend them or anyone because i do like the Elija Craig 12 and Evan williams 1990. Hope this is just only one bad bottle because this is my very favorite drink. VSOF - then V VOF and finally OF-BIB. guess i'm addicted to
OLD FITZGERALD and some other wheated bourbons. LIFE IS GOOD. - Den

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

Den,
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with VSOF. It too is one of my favorites.

Have you tried David Nicholson 1843? It's a bonded 7-year old, distilled by Old Fitzgerald, bottled and distributed by David Sherman (of St. Louis). It's pretty easy to find in Missouri. From the bourbons you mentioned, I think you'll like the DN 1843. It runs about $14 to $15 a bottle.

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

Thanks Bill, the 1843 is pretty good but imho the Ol-Fitz BIB is alot better.
This is the 1st time i've had a bad bottle of VSOF. I bought 2 - 1.75 liters of OF-BIB that had a woody taste or barrel tones about 3-mos ago and finally was able to drink them up after diluting with various mixers of which i hate to mix any good bourbon or whisky, even with ice or water.I've been drinking bad,good and even some great bottlings since i was 12yrs old and imo, this is the good times or golden age as they say. life is good! Den

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

VSOF 12-year-old would have to have been distilled in or before 1989. United Distillers didn't start production at Bernheim until 1993, so not only was your bottle not produced by Heaven Hill (who purchased Bernheim in 1999), but it was actually made at Stitzel-Weller, same as any other VSOF you may have had. What number are you talking about? If it's the tiny number in the lower right corner of the label, it should begin with "16" (Stitzel-Weller is DSP-16). When the Bernheim-distilled VSOF's hit the market (not before 2005), the number should begin with "01". I'd take the bottle back to where you bought and exchange it. Chances are it's something to do with that particular bottle.

Even though OF-BIB is only supposed to be 4 - 5 years old, up until very recently, the labels have all stated it was distilled at DSP-16 (Stitzel-Weller) and bottled at DSP-24 (the bottling plant at Glenmore in Owensboro). New bottles are now labelled showing it to be distilled at Bernheim (DSP-01) and bottled at Heaven Hill (DSP-31). This bourbon wasn't made by Heaven Hill, though; it was UD product made before 1999. Heaven Hill has gone through some pains to improve and "humanize" the distilling process at Bernheim, so their version of Old Fitz should be even better.

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

Thanks John for all the info, I should have engaged my brain before my fingers. It could have been the bourbon, anyway thats what i'm going to blame it on or my poor math skills.All my other bottles have SL 16.905.01.00 like you said and also have the bourbon heritage collection label .this new bottle doesn't have this B H C label, just a label with very special written all over it.In the lower r/h corner of the label,it doesn't have 16,it has only OW76892 and i am thinking about taking this $30 bottle of crap back. also was wondering why H-H products have that vegetal, mothball or whatever smell and taste especially the younger bottlings. Like I said, the evan-williams 1990 bottle sure is good but the wheated bourbons is what i prefer and of course Dickel#12. You people sure are knowledgeable and all i can do is try to absorb all info along with good bourbon and whisky. LifeIsGood! --Den

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

That "vegetal, mothboll", camphor quality does describe Heaven Hill all right, especially their young whiskey. It's a trademark, and present in all their bourbon, but it's overpowered by more pleasant aromas and flavors as their bourbon gets up over about seven years. Parker and Craig Beam's selections have a lot to do with it, too. I don't taste it at all in 10-year-old Evan Williams Single Barrel, and not much in 10-year-old Henry McKenna Single Barrel. But it's sure there in 10-year-old Very Rare Old Heaven Hill, and only about half that strong in 10-year-old Evan Williams 1793.

Okay, Boone... can you check the label and let us know if that's current HH product? (we didn't get one of those). And just what's in that bottle now?

Re: Very Special Old Fitzgerald

This VSOF bottle -12yrs -90 proof has this # in the R/H bottom corner of the front label, it is -- O W 76892 and the neck label has very special written all over it with no mention of bourbon heritage collection,but the bottle shape is the same tho. On the back label it has this #--S L 27.905.01.00 and this on the upc label--0--88076-22640--1--which is exactly the same as my other bottles of VSOF. THANKS boone, john or whoever can help with this query and please excuse my poor typing and english skills.---life is good--Den.